Chief of Public Safety Columbus Airport - 3.6 Columbus, GA Job Details Full-time $90,000 - $95,000 a year 6 hours ago Benefits Health savings account Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Paid time off Parental leave Employee assistance program Vision insurance Life insurance Retirement plan Qualifications Written communication Budget management Confidential information handling Team leadership Aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) Integrity Driver's License Supervising experience Emergency response Team training Risk management Peace Officer Certification Criminal investigation Program budgeting State-specific police officer certification Law enforcement Full Job Description Company Overview Columbus Airport is operated by the Columbus Airport Commission and has a proud history of serving the Columbus, Georgia region. Our airport is committed to providing safe, reliable, and high-quality air transportation services while supporting local economic development and community needs. Job Summary Under the direction of the Executive Director, the Chief of Public Safety provides executive leadership and administration of the Columbus Airport Public Safety Department, including law enforcement, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF), airport security, and emergency preparedness and response. The Chief leads a cross-trained public safety workforce responsible for protecting life and property and maintaining a safe, secure, and prepared commercial-service airport environment. The Chief is responsible for departmental leadership, personnel management, regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness, training, budgeting, equipment readiness, professional standards, and interagency coordination. As a member of the Airport's senior leadership team, the Chief works collaboratively with Airport departments, FAA, TSA, Georgia POST, airlines, tenants, and local, state, and federal public safety partners. Duties Department Leadership & Personnel Management Direct all Public Safety functions and establish departmental goals, policies, procedures, staffing plans, performance expectations, and professional standards. Manage recruitment, selection, scheduling, training, development, performance evaluation, discipline, and retention of Public Safety personnel in coordination with Human Resources. Ensure appropriate supervisory coverage and readiness for a 24-hour public safety operation. Advise the Executive Director regarding public safety, security, emergency preparedness, organizational risk, staffing, equipment, and resource needs. Promote a culture of professionalism, integrity, accountability, preparedness, customer service, and continuous improvement. Law Enforcement & Professional Standards Direct Airport law enforcement activities in accordance with federal and state law, local ordinances, Georgia POST requirements, Airport policies, and departmental procedures. Provide command oversight of criminal investigations, arrests, traffic enforcement, incident response, evidence, case preparation, use-of-force incidents, complaints, and other law enforcement matters. Ensure required law enforcement reports, records, certifications, and documentation are accurate, secure, and properly maintained. Maintain the Airport's law enforcement agency standing and required documentation with Georgia POST and other applicable agencies. Ensure appropriate investigation and resolution of complaints or allegations involving Public Safety personnel. ARFF, Emergency Preparedness & Response Provide executive oversight of the Airport's ARFF program and ensure required staffing, training, apparatus, equipment, extinguishing agents, and response capabilities are maintained in accordance with applicable FAA requirements. Ensure personnel maintain required ARFF qualifications, recurrent training, and emergency-response readiness. Maintain and coordinate the Airport Emergency Plan (AEP) and lead planning and execution of the Airport's required triennial full-scale emergency exercise, tabletop exercises, drills, and associated corrective actions. Serve as a senior Airport incident commander or Public Safety command representative during aircraft emergencies, fires, law enforcement incidents, security events, natural disasters, mass-casualty incidents, and other significant emergencies. Maintain mutual-aid relationships with law enforcement, fire, EMS, emergency management, hospitals, military, and other emergency-response partners. Coordinate with Airport Operations regarding ARFF-related Part 139 requirements, FAA inspections, and applicable corrective actions. Airport Security & Regulatory Compliance Provide executive oversight of Public Safety responsibilities under the Airport Security Program and applicable TSA requirements. Oversee assigned security functions, including credentialing, badging, access control, security training, and related responsibilities as applicable. Coordinate with TSA, FAA, Airport Operations, airlines, tenants, and other stakeholders regarding security and Public Safety regulatory matters. Ensure security incidents, breaches, vulnerabilities, regulatory findings, and corrective actions involving Public Safety are appropriately investigated, documented, addressed, and reported. Coordinate Public Safety participation in FAA, TSA, Georgia POST, and other regulatory inspections and reviews. Training, Equipment & Departmental Readiness Establish and maintain a comprehensive training and professional-development program and ensure personnel maintain required POST, ARFF, security, emergency-management, firearms, medical-response, and other certifications. Maintain complete and auditable training, certification, and departmental compliance records. Ensure Public Safety vehicles, ARFF apparatus, communications systems, protective equipment, firearms, and emergency-response resources remain properly maintained and operationally ready. Develop supervisors and future departmental leaders through training, mentoring, and professional-development opportunities. Budget, Administration & Interagency Coordination Prepare and administer the Department's annual operating and capital budgets and forecast staffing, apparatus, vehicle, technology, equipment, training, and replacement needs. Coordinate procurement and replacement of departmental vehicles, ARFF apparatus, communications equipment, protective equipment, technology, and other assets. Identify and coordinate applicable law enforcement, ARFF, airport security, emergency-preparedness grants and reimbursement programs with appropriate Airport departments. Serve as the Airport's principal Public Safety representative to local, state, and federal law enforcement, fire, emergency-management, regulatory, and public-safety agencies. Provide reports and updates to the Executive Director and Airport Commission regarding significant Public Safety matters, performance, risks, staffing, and emergency preparedness as requested.

Minimum Qualifications:

Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible sworn law enforcement experience with five (5) years of progressively responsible supervisory, management, or command-level law enforcement experience. Line-level law enforcement experience alone, regardless of length of service, will not satisfy this requirement. Current Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) peace officer certification in good standing. Demonstrated experience managing personnel, disciplinary processes, training programs, emergency operations, budgets, equipment, and law enforcement administrative functions. Must meet all applicable requirements to serve as the chief executive or department head of a Georgia law enforcement agency or obtain certifications within six months. Valid driver's license and ability to maintain Airport driving privileges.

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Criminal Justice, Fire Science, Emergency Management, Aviation Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field. Georgia POST Supervisory or Management Certification preferred. Airport law enforcement, ARFF, Part 139 commercial-service airport, or TSA-regulated airport-security experience. Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting certification and/or demonstrated ARFF management experience. Certified Member (C.M.) or Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) designation through the American Association of Airport Executives.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Thorough knowledge of law enforcement administration, investigations, professional standards, emergency response, and personnel management. Knowledge of ARFF principles, airport emergency preparedness, FAA requirements applicable to ARFF, and TSA airport-security requirements. Strong executive leadership, decision-making, personnel management, budgeting, planning, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Ability to command complex and high-risk emergency situations and exercise sound judgment under pressure. Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and interagency communication skills. Demonstrated integrity, discretion, accountability, professionalism, and ability to manage confidential law enforcement, personnel, investigative, and security-sensitive information.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

Work is performed in both office and operational airport environments and requires access to terminal, airfield, ramp, ARFF, law enforcement, and other Airport areas. The employee may be exposed to aircraft operations, vehicle traffic, fuel, emergency scenes, smoke, fire, hazardous materials, inclement weather, loud noise, and extreme temperatures. The employee must be capable of performing the essential functions of a command-level public safety position and, when necessary, performing sworn law enforcement and emergency-response responsibilities consistent with required certifications. The position may require standing, walking, bending, climbing, crouching, lifting, operating emergency equipment, and wearing required protective equipment. The Chief is expected to remain reasonably available outside normal business hours for significant incidents, emergencies, regulatory matters, personnel issues, and other circumstances requiring command-level involvement. Security /

Employment Requirements:

The selected individual must be able to successfully complete applicable airport security requirements, including a TSA Security Threat Assessment and fingerprint-based background check, as required for airport access. Columbus Airport is a drug-free work environment. Prior to a final offer of employment, the selected individual will be required to undergo a comprehensive background check and drug screening.

Pay:

$90,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Employee assistance program Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Parental leave Retirement plan Vision insurance

Experience:

Law enforcement: 10 years (Required)

Supervising:

5 years (Required)

License/Certification:

Peace Officer Certification (Required) POST Executive Certification (Preferred)

Work Location:

In person